Right now, however, she was too interested in going back to school to earn her second degree, this time for creative writing. Her accounting degree the first time around had been practical, so she could contribute to their family’s income by getting a good job, and therefore ease Nami’s burden.
This time, since Joaquin assured Malyah money wasn’t an issue, she was seeking a degree for something she’d always felt passionate about but felt she couldn’t “waste” time doing at her family’s financial expense—writing.
Once she had her hair completely covered she joined Joaquin in the shower. Now that they were vertical, she had a reasonable chance of actually making it out of the cabin and not heading back to bed.
Heading back to bed with her wolf wasn’t a bad thing, but their time in Idaho would come to a close all too soon, and she didn’t want to miss time with their extended family.
Plus, Nami’s baby shower was this morning.
She definitely wasn’t missing that.
“Did you already take Nami’s present to Asia?” he asked as he scrubbed her back for her.
“Yep. Safely stashed there with all the others. They were supposed to move everything to Peyton’s last night once we all cleared out of there. I hope she’s going to be surprised.”
“Since we didn’t tell Beck about it, I’m certain she will be.” She turned and took the washcloth from him so she could scrub his back for him.
Her husband’s lean, lithe form always made her soul flutter a little when she looked at him. He was five-eleven and a few inches taller than her. But even compared to someone like Peyton or Trent, he definitely held his own in terms of presence. Some of the wolves, like Beck, were big and beefy, brawny, and it showed in their wolf forms, too.
Then others, like Joaquin, were deceptively slender, but wicked fast and just as strong in other ways. She’d watched Joaquin and Beck spar plenty of times, and her wolf could hold his own against the larger man without any trouble.
“I need to get moving,” she said when he started to nibble the nape of her neck again. “You’re gonna get me in trouble.”
He chuckled. “I can’t help it, love.”
She reached down and goosed his cock, making him flinch. “Behave,” she told him.
He rumbled a little, deep in his throat, but gave her another quick kiss. “Fine, but I’m going to be stalking you for a nooner later. You realize that, don’t you?”
She smiled and rubbed noses with him. “I’ll probably be ready for one by then.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were dressed and heading across the snowy backyard from their guest cabin. Sure enough, Nami was already at work in the kitchen with Gillian, Asia, and Ken.
“There you are,” Nami lightly scolded. “’Bout time you two got up. Malyah, get yourself over here and start the biscuits.”
Malyah playfully saluted her. “Yes, General Sis.” She headed to the sink to wash her hands.
Food was love, in their family. Always had been. Even when they had very little, Nami had always managed to find enough food for them, and meals were a family event. Even as they got older, they still had Sunday dinners together.
Now their Sunday dinners were much larger with their new family in attendance. They’d soon grow even larger.
She and Joaquin had their own house now and took turns hosting. One day, she hoped their home was as busy as Gillian and Peyton’s was, with friends and family in and out all the time. The kind of home she wished they could have had growing up.
There was nothing but love here, and it always gave her hope for the future, even though she knew there were shadowy threats the Enforcers were keeping their eyes on.
She wouldn’t let that worry ruin today, though.
Everyone showed up for breakfast. While Nami insisted on helping out in the kitchen with clean-up, and Beck in there helping her, Peyton, Trent, and others silently started moving presents and hanging decorations in the living room. They stationed several shifters standing in the doorway between the living and dining rooms to hopefully help block her view.
Then, with Dewi’s “assistance” using Prime powers, they sent little Bebe into the kitchen.
“Auntie, Auntie!” she giggle-shrieked. “Come see! come see!” She threw her head back and let out an adorable howl before grabbing Nami’s hand.
Malyah nearly burst out laughing when Nami and Beck exchanged nearly identical confused looks before following the toddler through the dining room…
And everyone called out, “Surprise!”
Malyah found herself blinking back happy tears of her own to see Nami’s stunned shock, both hands flying up to cover her mouth and Beck’s happy laughter as he pulled her in for a hug.
Even for Nami’s wedding, she hadn’t been the sole center of attention, and had a bum ankle to deal with, too.
This morning was all about her. Malyah had helped Gillian and Asia with the arrangements, and there would be no silly, embarrassing games. That totally wasn’t Nami’s jam.
They got Nami and Beck seated on a love seat so they could start unwrapping presents. Malyah stood back and let Lu’ana and Beck’s mom take charge.
Joaquin walked up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders, leaning in close and speaking to her through their mate bond. “One day, that can be us, my love.”
She reached up and patted his hand. “Not yet. Too much I want us to do first.”
Nami looked truly happy, her face literally radiant with a joy Malyah couldn’t ever remember seeing her older sister wear before.
Beck had been damned good for her in more than one way.
She leaned back against Joaquin. “She’s earned this happiness the hard way.”
“I’m certain she does not begrudge raising the three of you.”
“Me, too, but I wish she hadn’t needed to give up so much throughout the years.”
* * * *
Joaquin wasn’t sure why Malyah seemed so…melancholy this morning. He’d thought certainly Nami’s baby shower would have had her in a joyful mood.
At one point in the festivities, Joaquin stepped out to the kitchen to pour himself another cup of coffee just to find Reggie standing there sipping one of his own.
“I thought you’d be out there,” Joaquin said as he moved to pour himself a cup.
Reggie shrugged, smiling a little. He kept his voice down. “I’m all right. Just that Lu’ana’s been hinting around she wants to have another baby.”
This was news to Joaquin. Malyah hadn’t said anything to him about that. “She is?”
He nodded. “Yeah.” He glanced out the kitchen doorway before turning to Joaquin and dropping his voice to a whisper. “I love Bebe but, I gotta say, I’m not ready to become a dad again right now. Or maybe ever.”
Joaquin slowly nodded.
“I mean,” he quickly continued, “she is my world, right? Both of them are. I would kill or die for my daughter or my wife. But does it make me a horrible husband and father to only want one child?”
Joaquin wrapped both hands around his mug and slowly sipped to buy himself a little time. “I think it makes you human, and very self-aware to know that.”
“We’re just finally starting to get ahead on bills again,” he continued. “For the first time in a long time, we’ve got a decent cushion built up in savings. Even with our good health insurance, having a baby’s a lot of dang money.”
“I take it she doesn’t know you feel this way?”
“I mean, when we first got together, I thought I wanted more kids. But the older Bebe gets, the more I just want to focus on being her dad, you know? I don’t want to try to split time between more kids. And it’s not like she’ll grow up alone. She’ll have lots of cousins, I’m sure, between Nami’s baby, and Dewi’s, and any kids you two have.”
Joaquin supposed he didn’t reply fast enough, because Reggie’s head tilted. “Y’all are having kids, right?”
“Eventually. Not right now. Malyah wants to wait.”
They stood there for a moment, listening to the happy chatter two rooms over.
“You need to tell her sooner rather than later,” Joaquin finally counseled. “Don’t wait. You’ll disappoint her if you do.”
“I’m thinking about getting a vasectomy.”
Now they were in the weeds. “Again, have you talked to her about this?”
“That was the eventual plan. To have kids, and then I’d get snipped so she wouldn’t have to worry about birth control.” He sighed. “I’m just…I’m almost afraid to have sex with her right now, because I don’t want her getting pregnant.”
“Oh, man. You really need to talk to her, then. Soon.”
“Plus, she’s up for a promotion at work soon. She gets pregnant, I guarantee you they’ll probably pass her over. I don’t want her career to suffer because of a baby.”
Joaquin was starting to realize he was Reggie’s sounding board, a “safe” person to talk to in his attempt to try to work it out in his head.
“My momma is up my ass for more grandbabies, too,” he continued. “I have two brothers, and they each have three. My oldest brother has a two-month-old. You think she’d be happy with that. No. ‘Reggie, why don’t that baby have a brother or sister yet?’” He snorted. “I can already tell Bebe will be a handful. I mean, she’s doing the same thing one of my little cousins is doing on my dad’s side. She’s almost six. Runs around, barking like a dog, just like Bebe’s doing. They’re having trouble keeping her in kindergarten now. She actually bit one of her classmates two days before Christmas break.”
Joaquin froze. “She did?” This was news to him. He knew Badger was still trying to trace Reggie’s lineage.
“Yeah. Found out on Christmas when I called him to say hello. He told me then. You think Momma would say something to me about that, but noooo.” He shook his head and took another sip of coffee. “And they got twins younger than her.”
Joaquin knew he’d get grilled by Badger later, so he tried to stay cool. “On your dad’s side, huh?”
“Yeah. Uncle Archie’s son, Earl.” He smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to toss family drama at you.”
“No, it’s fine. We are family.”
“I just…” He stared into his mug for a moment. “What if Bebe starts acting up like that? I don’t want to have more kids and try to find time for them if I have to deal with her problems. I want to be able to devote all my time and energy to her, right? Is that so bad?”
“No, it sounds very responsible.”
“Now help me convince Lu’ana of that,” he muttered. “She thinks Bebe is perfect and adorable. I mean, she is adorable. She’s my daughter. But…” Another sigh. “Maybe I’m reading too much into this.”
Joaquin was still trying to process the earlier news, about Bebe’s cousin. “I believe you’re justified wanting to wait to make a decision. You’re not saying no forever, perhaps. You tell her you wish to wait. Maybe as Bebe gets older and starts school, Lu’ana will enjoy the increasing freedom and not want to have another baby.”
“Right? I can’t wait to get Bebe potty trained. She sleeps through the night, finally.” He stared through the doorway again. “Even with the pre-paid college fund, we’re going to be lucky if we can afford to send Bebe to college. We’re going to have to put a new roof on the house by next year. My car’s starting to show its age. I want to be smart. And…” He looked at Joaquin. “I really don’t want to bring another baby into the world right now the way the world is. My mom said it’s selfish not to have kids, but maybe it’s more selfish to have them.”
“I don’t think you’re selfish for approaching this cautiously.”
“Yeah?”
Joaquin nodded. “Yeah.”
Lu’ana chose that moment to pop into the kitchen. “There you are. You’re missing everything.”
“Y’all don’t need me there.”
“I want you to take some pictures for me. Sis is about to open our present.”
Reggie smiled at Joaquin. “Guess I’ve been told.”
“I guess so.”
He watched them return to the living room.
I’ve got to tell Badger.
* * * *
Once all the presents had been unwrapped, and a few people had left, Joaquin made his way over to the couch where Badger and Duncan sat flanking Tamsin.
Joaquin leaned in from behind and placed a hand on Badger’s shoulder. “Need to talk to you. Now. Alone.” He wasn’t a Prime, but Badger was, and Joaquin knew he’d hear his thoughts.
Badger nodded. “I’ll be right back,” he said to Tamsin and Duncan. “Business to attend to.”
They headed out onto the back porch, where they were alone. Badger held Joaquin’s arm while Joaquin quickly and silently related his conversation with Reggie to the older shifter.
Badger’s eyes widened. “Bloody hell, man,” he whispered. “Ye’re sure?”
Joaquin nodded. Badger dropped Joaquin’s arm and ran a hand through his wild red hair. “This is…”
Joaquin didn’t like that Badger looked so…stunned. Finally, he glanced around and turned to Joaquin. “Do I need to Prime ye to keep this quiet?”
Joaquin shook his head.
“Right.” Without further ado, Badger took off around the back of the house, pulling his phone out of his pocket as he hurried on his way.
Joaquin returned inside and opted to hang out in the kitchen for a few minutes. He was still there when Lu’ana walked in, Bebe in her arms.
One of the things that had been on the secret agenda for this trip was trying to figure out if Bebe could shift or not.
So far, Badger and the others had no luck figuring it out. Either Bebe couldn’t shift, or she wasn’t old enough to yet.
Either way, her behavior for a child that was supposed to be “human” was disconcerting.
Lu’ana looked tired. “Did Reggie come this way?”
“Last time I saw him, he was with you.”
“Ah.”
Bebe let out a yawn. “Can I hold her for you?”
“Yeah, thank you.” She wearily smiled. “I’m just really exhausted. She kept waking up last night and howling.”
“Ah.” He stared into the sleepy toddler’s face. “If you want, Malyah and I will watch her until dinner. If you’d like to rest.”
“Oh, wow, thank you!” She leaned in and pecked him on the cheek. “I’m not even gonna argue with you. Her diaper bag’s in the living room. There should be plenty in there for her for today, but if you need something, just come over to Asia’s.”
“Will do.”
She left the kitchen just as Badger burst through the back door. He did a double take when he saw Bebe in Joaquin’s arms. “Jest the lassie I wanted to see.”
“I told Lu’ana Malyah and I would watch her for the afternoon. Her stuff’s in the living room.”
“Perfect.”
“Where’d you go?”
“Makin’ some phone calls.”
“On New Year’s Eve?” Badger glared at him. “Right,” Joaquin said. He switched to his best imitation of a Scottish accent. “Joaquin, keep yer gob shut.”
Badger smiled. “Smart man. Wait here.” He headed toward the living room.
Bebe yawned again and stuck her thumb into her mouth to suck on while resting her head on Joaquin’s shoulder. He walked over to the small kitchen table and settled into one of the chairs. She was a gorgeous little girl, looked so much like Lu’ana, Malyah, and Nami. He loved kids, but with everything going on…yeah.
Waiting was smart.
Badger returned a moment later with Tamsin, Dewi, Peyton, and Duncan. Badger motioned to Joaquin. “I told Malyah it’s pack business and to stay here, and that we’ve got the princess. Let’s go.”
Joaquin stood. “Where?”
“My cabin. We’re runnin’ outta time.”
Chapter Eight
Badger led the way back his cabin. Once they were all inside, he locked them in. �
��Put her down on the floor.”
Bebe had perked up a little with the change in venue, but she still looked sleepy. Joaquin set her down on the rug.
Badger turned to Tamsin and Dewi. “There’s blankets in my bedroom. Grab one each, and wrap it around ye. Eh, strip back there, if ye please.”
“What are we doing?” Tamsin asked.
At least she seemed to be temporarily pulled out of her funk.
“We’re gonna give the little princess a few hints. Most shifters grow up seein’ other shifters, and they take a hint.”
“Isn’t she still kind of young to shift?” Dewi asked.
“Mebbe.” He scratched at his hair. “But it’s all I can think to do. If she never sees it, she’ll never know it’s possible. Right?”
Dewi led the way to the back of the cabin.
“I remember what a time Chelsea had learning how to shift,” Peyton said. “She was four, and so frustrated. Every time we’d have a run, she’d chase after her brothers, trying, howling, not wanting to be left behind.” He chuckled. “Finally, one night, she got so mad, she tripped and fell, but she was on four legs by the time she hit the ground. Then she got all tangled up with her clothes and went rolling, ass over tail. I thought Asia and Gillian were going to kill me and Trent for laughing, but it was funny. But she’d finally figured it out.”
“One of me sisters didn’t shift until she was nearly ten,” Badger said. “We’d honestly thought she’d never shift. Then, one mornin’, she trots out o’ the bedroom she shared wi’ me other sisters and lets out a howl. She’d shifted in her sleep and couldn’t figure out how to shift back. Took her three days.”
Duncan smiled. “I remember hearing about that.”
Before Joaquin could ask more about it, Dewi and Tamsin emerged, naked, with blankets wrapped around them.
With a grunt, Badger lowered himself to the floor next to Bebe. “Now, listen, wee one.” He threw his head back and howled, which drew a deep belly laugh from Bebe. She threw back her head and howled in response.
He pointed at Duncan, then Peyton, and Joaquin, for them to all howl in turn.
Bebe’s grin widened and she clapped her hands, enchanted and howling with them.
Geek-Speak (Bleacke Shifters Book 6) Page 7
